Hōkūle‘a – A Voyage Dedicated to a Sustainable Future for Islands

In 2014, to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May, the traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe -- Hōkūle‘a, and Hikianalia -- her sister voyaging canoe, started a three-year voyage around the world to chart a new course for a resilient and sustainable future.

“If we view our Earth as an island, it becomes apparent that we must change course to ensure a healthy, sustainable world.”
Nainoa Thompson
Executive Director, Polynesian Voyaging Society
Leading the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage Society.

The voyage, led by Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson and a new generation of navigators, is using only the signs of the waves, winds and stars to find their way around the Earth. One key stop is the Third International Conference of Small Island Developing States in Samoa in September 2014.

These courageous navigators will bring the stories of our islands and oceans to inspire leaders to take action to protect these critical resources. The Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia crew will then carry this message to 26 countries and 85 communities on its 47,000 nautical mile voyage.